Vriesea plant named ‘SPARKLE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Vriesea  plant named ‘SPARKLE’ characterized as a funnel form rosette plant, measuring about 35 cm to 40 cm in height (when flowering) and 30 cm to 35 cm in diameter, producing compound, red-orange in color (RHS 34A), bipinate spike inflorescence, measuring about 22-25 cm in height and about 13 cm in diameter, about 5 to 6 branches, and yellow-green foliage, measuring about 18-25 cm in length and about 3.5 cm to 4 cm in width.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Vriesea sp.

Variety denomination: ‘SPARKLE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Vriesea plant, botanically known as Vriesea sp., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SPARKLE’. The genus of Vriesea belongs to the Bromeliaceae family.

The new Vriesea cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by—the inventors, Elly Bak and Nico D. M. Steur, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Vriesea variety with good growing habit and attractive inflorescence.

The new Vriesea cultivar ‘SPARKLE’ originated from a cross-made in a controlled breeding program by the inventors in 1998 in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is a Vriesea selection designated ‘89326’ (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is a Vriesea selection designated ‘85249’ (unpatented). ‘SPARKLE’ was discovered and selected by the inventors in May of 2002, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Assendelft, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SPARKLE’ performed by vegetative means by tissue culture was first performed in 2007, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The first ‘SPARKLE’ plants propagated through the use of tissue culture flowered in 2009, in Assendelft, The Netherlands, and have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘SPARKLE’ which in combination distinguish this Vriesea as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Funnel form rosette plant, measuring about 35-40 cm in total         height (when flowering) and 30 cm to 35 cm in diameter;     -   2. Compound, orange-red (RHS 34A) bipinate spike inflorescence,         measuring about 22-25 cm in height, and about 13 cm in diameter.     -   3. About 5 to 6 branches,     -   4. Yellow green foliage, measuring 18-25 cm in length and 3.5 cm         to 4.0 cm in width.

Plants of the parents, ‘89326’ (unpatented) and ‘85249’ (unpatented), are no longer available to provide a botanical comparison with the new Vriesea cultivar ‘SPARKLE’. The new cultivar ‘SPARKLE’ differs primarily from plants of the parental cultivars by exhibiting a more branched inflorescence, orange-red in color.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Vriesea cultivar ‘SPARKLE’ is the Vriesea cultivar designated ‘STYLE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,176). Plants of the new cultivar ‘SPARKLE’ differ from plants of ‘STYLE’ primarily in inflorescence color.

The new Vriesea cultivar ‘SPARKLE’ can also be compared to the Vriesea cultivar designated ‘ENERGY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,235). Plants of the new cultivar ‘SPARKLE’ differ from plants of ‘ENERGY’ primarily in that ‘SPARKLE’ has a higher number of branches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Vriesea cultivar ‘SPARKLE’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘SPARKLE’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘SPARKLE’ at about 15 months of age from potting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘SPARKLE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, fertilizers and humidity without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photograph, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Vriesea cultivar as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Plants of ‘SPARKLE’ were grown in a greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 23° C. No artificial lighting or photoperiodic treatments were conducted, but plants of ‘SPARKLE’ are forced into flowering by adding acetylene. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of ‘SPARKLE’: 1 part nitrogen, 0.6 parts phosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1 parts magnesium.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of ‘SPARKLE’ described is about 15 months from potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Vriesea sp. -   Parentage:     -   -   Male parent.—Vriesea selection designated ‘89326’             (unpatented).         -   Female parent.—Vriesea selection designated ‘85249’             (unpatented). -   Propagation: Tissue culture. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 35-40 cm (when             flowering). Width: About 30-35 cm. Shape: Funnel form             rosette.         -   Growth habit.—Stemless.         -   Plant vigor.—Good.         -   Flowering season.—A fully grown plant can flower year round,             starting 15 to 17 weeks after induction of natural light or             trough flowering treatment.         -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may             damage plants.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity.—About 25 to 30.         -   Size of mature leaf.—Length: About 18-25 cm. Width: About             3.5-4 cm.         -   Overall shape.—Broad linear.         -   Apex shape.—Abruptly acuminate.         -   Base shape.—Strap-like around central axis.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.         -   Color.—Leaf color can vary depending on growing conditions.             Upper Surface: Mature leaf: Yellow-green, RHS 147A. Immature             leaf: Yellow-green, RHS 147B. Lower Surface: Mature leaf:             Yellow-green, RHS 147B. Immature leaf: Yellow-green, RHS             147B.         -   Venation.—None. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Quantity and form.—1 flower per floral bract, typical for             the genus Vriesea; flowering is normally in progression from             base to tip of scape.         -   Shape.—Bipinnate spike (main spike about 12 cm in length and             about 5 cm in width, side spike about 10 cm in length and             about 4.5 cm in width).         -   Size.—Height: about 22-25 cm. Diameter: about 13 cm.         -   Color.—Orange-red RHS 34A. Yellow-orange bract-ends RHS 14A.         -   Corolla.—Form: Long and narrow, petals and sepals fused at             the base around the ovary. Number: About 60-70 depending on             the size of the plant.         -   Petals.—Number: 3 per flower. Length: About 4.5 cm. Width:             About 0.6 cm. Overall Shape: Ligulate. Apex Shape: Obtuse.             Base Shape: Fused.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Yellow, RHS 8A. Lower surface: Yellow,             RHS 8A.         -   Sepals.—Number: 3 per flower. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width:             About 0.8 cm. Overall Shape: Ligulate. Apex Shape: Acute.             Base Shape: Fused. Color: Yellow with little orange-red (as             a flush) closest to RHS 13B+RHS 34A.         -   Branches.—Quantity: About 5 to 6. Length: About 10-12 cm.             Width: About 4.5 cm. Color: Orange-red, RHS 34A.         -   Bracts.—Quantity of bracts on main spike: About 17.             Arrangement: Alternate. Size: Length: About 3-4 cm. Width:             About 1.5-3 cm. Overall shape: Ovate. Color: Orange red —             with yellow bract-ends, RHS 34A+RHS14A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 6 per flower. Length: About             4.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Color: Yellow, RHS 5D.             Anther: Length: About 0.5 cm. Color: Yellow, RHS 5C. Pollen:             Amount: Scarce. Color: Yellow, too small to qualify.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: 1 per flower. Length: About             4.5 cm. Stigma: Shape: 3-parted. Width: About 0.3 cm. Color:             Yellow-green, RHS 151C. Style: Length: About 4.5 cm. Color:             Yellow, RHS 5D. Ovary: Shape: Conical. Length: About 0.8 cm.             Diameter: About 0.3 cm. Color: Yellow, RHS 11C. -   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information is currently available. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct Vriesea plant named ‘SPARKLE’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 